Summer program - read to older kids ( )

A Donkey Reads
By Muriel Mandell, Illustrations by Andre Letria
2011, Starbright Books
Review by Debra L Scott, 12/14/2011

This is a fun retelling of a Turkish Folktale. A small village is taken over by a Mongol tyrant who demands that the poor villagers pay him tribute. One family has barely enough food for their table and can think of nothing to offer except an old donkey. The tyrant becomes angry and threatens to whip the father who dared offer such an unworthy gift. But before the tyrant can punish him, the village wise man steps up and tells the Mongol that the donkey is very intelligent and that he can teach him to read!

Well written and entertaining, children will love hearing about how the clever villager tricks the cruel tyrant and saves the poor family from punishment. The only thing that may be an issue is this sentence at the very beginning: “Once, many years ago, a small village in Anatolia inhabited by the Seljuks was conquered by the Mongols.” It is the only sentence in the story with words that may be unfamiliar not only to children, but to many adults reading it. One might conclude that the rest of the story is likewise difficult to understand, and miss a delightful tale. I would hope that parents and teachers will look past it, or be ready with an answer as to who the Seljuks and the Mongols are, and that Anatolia is the old name for Turkey. ( )

Librarians know that the folk tale section is looking a bit, um, worn these days. Few publishers are putting out new folk tale and traditional literature options. Reversing this trend comes this tale and, better yet, from the underrepresented-on-the-shelves nation of Turkey.

A man avoids his ruler's beating by saying he can make a donkey read. Does he? And, if so, how?

This tale of outwitting one less intelligent but more powerful has charm in its telling, and the vintage-styled and -tinted oil paint illustrations harken back to earlier, simpler times in children's publishing.

However, the note at the tale's conclusion wondering aloud if the man did, after all, avoid being beaten, adds a tenor of injustice that may be difficult for early elementary students to assimilate.

Recommended.

Note: This review is based on a digital ARC received from NetGalley containing cover illustrations but lacking interior paintings. (57) ( )